Powerful water pump taken off duck boat that sank in July; NEWS BRIEFING; Staff and news services; Trial starts over query about citizenship on 2020 census ; Officials: Driver was huffing before Wis. crash that killed 4 ; Trump says he ‘probably’ won’t meet with Putin in Paris ; Separatists kidnap 82 from school in Cameroon; In Brooklyn, jury selection begins for El Chapo’s trial

BRANSON, Mo. - Records show a water pump had been replaced with a less powerful system in a tourist duck boat that sank in a Missouri lake, killing 17 people.

The Kansas City Star reports that the original Higgins pump, which is capable of removing as much as 250 gallons of water per minute from the bottom of a boat, was replaced with two less powerful electric pumps in the boat that sank in July at Table Rock Lake in the Branson area.

The capacity of those two pumps wasn't clear. But Coast Guard duck boat inspection records show that other Higgins pumps have been replaced in recent years in other duck boats, with the new pumps capable of extracting a combined 20 gallons of water or less per minute. That's not even one-tenth the pumping capacity of a Higgins, which was one of two pumping systems aboard the original World War II era duck boats.

One pumping system was for normal operations as the boats transported troops and equipment from ship to shore, while the Higgins was to keep the boats afloat in difficult conditions such as wind speeds of more than 15 mph or wave height of more than 3 feet.

After the war, as the boats were converted for tourism, the Higgins pump was sometimes removed from duck boats so the vessels could be lengthened, or "stretched," to accommodate more passengers.

Issues arose when the sunken boat faced near hurricane force winds.

Investigators haven't determined whether the less powerful pumps played a role.

Trial starts over query about citizenship on 2020 census

NEW YORK - A federal trial began Monday in New York City over challenges to the federal government's decision to put a citizenship question on the 2020 census.

The first witness - Duke University professor D. Sunshine Hillygus, who served six years on the scientific advisory committee for the census - said there was considerable evidence that adding the question will depress participation by non-citizens.

The trial stems from lawsuits brought by a dozen states and big cities, among others. They say the citizenship question will discourage immigrant participation and dilute political representation and funds for states that tend to vote Democratic.

U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman, who is hearing the case without a jury, has harshly criticized the federal government's efforts to delay or stop the trial.

Officials: Driver was huffing before Wis. crash that killed 4

LAKE HALLIE, Wis. - A young driver was inhaling chemical vapors, or huffing, just prior to striking and killing three Girl Scouts and a mother and critically injuring a fourth girl who had been picking up trash along a rural Wisconsin highway, police said Monday.

Colten Treu, 21, sped off after the collision in Lake Hallie Saturday morning, but later surrendered.

Treu was being held in the Chippewa County Jail on 13 possible charges, including four counts of intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. His bond was set at $250,000 during his first court appearance Monday morning.

Lake Hallie police said Monday that Treu and a passenger in the pickup truck both told investigators they had intentionally been inhaling chemical vapors just prior to the crash.

Trump says he 'probably' won't meet with Putin in Paris

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Monday he "probably" won't be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin when he travels to Paris later this week, but will meet with him at the G-20 gathering of world leaders later this year in Argentina.

White House national security adviser John Bolton had said previously that Trump would meet with Putin this week when he travels to Paris for the Armistice Day 100th anniversary. But Trump told reporters as he departed for a trio of rallies Monday that he wasn't sure the venue was right.

Trump's last meeting with Putin earlier this year in Helsinki was a public relations nightmare, as Trump declined to confront the Russian leader over the country's meddling in the 2016 election.

Separatists kidnap 82 from school in Cameroon

YAOUNDE, Cameroon - Armed separatists kidnapped at least 79 students and three staff members from a Presbyterian school in a troubled English-speaking region of Cameroon, the governor said Monday.

North West Region Gov. Deben Tchoffo said the students abducted Sunday night were ages 11 to 17, and were taken from Nkwen, a village near the regional capital, Bamenda, along with school staff.

A video purporting to show the kidnapped students was posted on social media from a group of men who call themselves "Amba boys," a reference to the state of Ambazonia that armed separatists want to establish in Cameroon's Anglophone North West and South West regions.

In the video, several boys give their names and those of their parents, but also say they didn't know where they're being held.

In Brooklyn, jury selection begins for El Chapo's trial

NEW YORK -Jury selection began Monday for the U.S. trial of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman with potential jurors quizzed about how much they knew about Guzman's reputation as a ruthless drug lord in Mexico.

There were also questioned in Brooklyn's federal court about their views on the legalization of marijuana, their fluency with Spanish and their feelings toward both law enforcement and cooperating witnesses. Guzman sat at the defense table listening through an interpreter and wearing a suit.

Guzman has pleaded not guilty to charges that his Sinaloa cartel smuggled tons of cocaine and other drugs, laundered billions of dollars and oversaw a campaign of murders and kidnappings. He faces life in prison if convicted in this trial, which is set for opening statements on Nov. 13.

Cause of death: Rapper Mac Miller, died from an accidental overdose caused by a combination of cocaine, alcohol, and the powerful opioid fentanyl, a Los Angeles County coroner's report released Monday said.

The 26-year-old, who frankly discussed his depression and addiction in his rhymes, died Sept. 7.

Spare the rod: The nation's leading pediatricians' group strengthened its advice against spanking and other physical punishment. In an updated policy released Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics says the potential for long-term harm can include aggression, substance abuse and suicidal behavior.

Caption: Blaze of glory: A volunteer carries a tar-soaked burning barrel Monday during the Ottery St. Mary festival. Competitors in the 400-year-old event raise money for charity by running in Devon, England, until the heat is unbearable or the barrel falls apart.

Matt Cardy/Getty